The Cincinnati Enquirer's John Fay reports Cincinnati Reds OF Adam Dunn would not have signed a two-year contract with an optional third year had the old management group of owner Carl Lindner and general manager Dan O'Brien stuck around. "I'm very happy here," said Dunn, adding he is happy with the new group of owner Bob Castellini and general manager Wayne Krivsky. "I honestly didn't want to go anywhere. Having ownership that wants to win - and not just be competitive - is big. They've got the right two men to do it."

The Dayton Daily News' Hal McCoy is reporting two reliable sources close to the situation indicate former Baltimore Orioles general manager Jim Beattie is the choice to replace former GM Dan O'Brien and that the Reds will announce the decision in the next few days.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports Cincinnati Reds director of major league operations Brad Kullman will take over the team on an interim basis as general manager. The team considers him a candidate to succeed fired general manager Dan O'Brien on a full-time basis.

Updating a previous item, The Cincinnati Enquirer reports former Cincinnati Reds general manager Dan O'Brien was surprised by the move to let him go on Jan. 23, after he had been told there would be a role for him in the organization. "Anytime there's ownership change, you know that's their prerogative to bring in their own people, but even with that understood, today was a surprise," O'Brien said.

New Cincinnati Reds owner Bob Castellini has decided to keep general manager Dan O'Brien, according to the Associated Press, and he will report directly to the owner. Under previous owner Carl Lindner, COO John Allen ran the entire operation, including both the business and baseball sides of the ballclub, and reported directly to the owner.

According to The Dayton Daily News' Hal McCoy, Cincinnati Reds 2B Ryan Freel will undergo further counseling under the direction of the team after an arrest on disorderly intoxication charges on Jan. 8. "Ryan will be back in the Employee Assistance Program and it will be on an expanded process," said Reds general manager Dan O'Brien. "We have all the facts as we know them and we will let the legal process run its course." Freel is expected to have a court appearance later this month.

Updating previous items, Reds.MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reports Cincinnati Reds IF Rich Aurilia will enter the 2006 season without a specific guarantee as to what position or role he will play. "I have no doubt he'll continue to take quality at-bats and fill in at multiple positions around the infield," said Reds GM Dan O'Brien. The Reds already have 2B Tony Womack and IF Ryan Freel in the picture at second base, and 3B Edwin Encarnacion will likely be the starting third baseman. Also, SS Felipe Lopez is now firmly entrenched as the starting shortstop.